Automatic water-closet seat.



UNITED STATES PATENT I Patented .Tuly 21, 1903.

@FFICE. j

AuToiv A-rlc,wA ER-cLosE T sE SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 734,336, dated July 21, 1903. Application filed December 17,1902. Serial No. 135,506. (No model.)

T0 ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WINFIELD Scorr J OHN- SON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Duquoin, in the county of Perry and State ofIllinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in AutomaticWater-Closet Seats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to water-closets; and it has for its object toprovide improved'and simple means for automatically opening and closingthe passage through the water-closet.

The invention comprises a pair of normally closed pivoted shuttersbeneath the closet-seat and means operated by downward pressure on thecloset-seat for opening said shutters.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a central sectional view of my improved closet-seat. Fig. 2is a transverse section on the line 2 2,

Fig. 1, the pivoted shutters being shown in closed position. Fig. 3 isan under plan view, the pivoted shutters. being shown in closedposition. Fig. 4 is aview similar to Fig. 2, the pivoted shutters'beingshown in open position; and Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 3, thepivoted shutters being shown in open position.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several views.

The casing l of my improved water-closet is provided on its uppersurface with the lon-- gitudinally-extending flanges 2 2, which inclosethe closet-seat 3. At its rear end the closet-seat 3is hinged or pivotedto theflanges 2 by the pins or bolts 1. A downwardly-extending flange 5is provided on the extreme forward end of the pivoted seat 3'. When theseat 3 is depressed, the flange 5 fits into a cutaway portion 6 of thecasing 1, limiting the downward movement of theseat-3 and providing aflush joint between the casingl and the seat 3.

The casing 1 in front of theaperture 7' through the seat 3 is providedwith a transverse downwardly-extending wall or flange 8. A similarflange is providedat the rear end of the casing 1. Both flanges 8 and 9are preferably flattened at their lowermost portions, as shown at 1O 11,Fig. 4., to provide bearingsurfaces for the pivoted shutters,hereinafter to be described, when said shutters are in closed position.

Extending through the upper portion of the front flange 8'are two rods12, each of which is bent downwardly at an angle, as shown at 13, andthen rearwardly, as shown-at 14, Figs. 3 and 5. Atits rear end each oftherods 12 is bent upwardlyat 15 and forwardly at 16 through the rearflange 9 of the casing 1. The

rods 12 arejournaled in the-flanges 8 and 9,

so that they are capable of swinging therein.

- Attached to the lower portion-1 10f each rod- 12 is a shutter-17'. V17 is preferably attached to its rod-l2 by providing a groove 18 in thelower surface thereof, into which groove the portion 14 of the rod' 12fits. To retain the rods 14: in the grooves 18 of the shutters 17,straps orcrosspieces 19, screwed or otherwise secured to the under faceof the shutters, are provided,'as'

clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5. It will be understood that the rods 14are not rigidly mounted in the grooves 18 of the shutters, but

are capable of turning slightly therein as said shutters'are swung toopened or closed posiopen or close the shutters 17.

The'seat 3 is provided with a transverse downwardly-extending flange .22adjacent, to the flange 8 of the casing 1. At each of its ends theflange 22 is provided with a vertical rack-bar 23, which meshes with oneof the pinions 21 on the rods 12. A plurality of coil -'springs 24, eachbearing at one end against a portion or in a socket of the casing 1 andat its other end against the under surface ofv the seat 3, is providedto normally hold the seat 3 in raised'position.

Any suitable packing 25 may be provided upon one or both of the shutters17 to pro Each of the shutters .which each rod 12. may be partiallyturned to 4 duce a tight joint between said shutters when they are inclosed position.

Constructed as above described the operation of my improved device'isobvious. The springs 24: by holding the seat 3 in raised position causeracks 23 and pinions 21 to normally hold the shutters 1'7 tightlyclosed. When, however, pressure is applied to the seat 3 by a personsitting thereon, the springs 24 are compressed, the pinions 21 arepartially turned by the racks 23, the rods 12 are operated, and theshutters 17 are caused to swing away from each other, as shown in Fig.4.

In addition to the packing on the inner edges of the shutters 17 theflattened portions 1O 11 of the flanges 8 and 9 maybe provided with feltor other suitable packing to produce a tight closure of said shutters,and packing may further be provided along the upper outer edges of saidshutters, as will be understood.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, a downwardly-movable seat, aplurality of pivoted links, a shutter supported by said links andarranged to swing, and means operated by the movement of said seat forswinging said shutter.

2. In a device of the character described, a downwardly-movable seat, aplurality of pivoted links, a plurality of shutters supported by saidlinks and arranged to swing to opened or closed position, and gearmechanism operated by the movement of said seat for operating saidshutters.

3. In a device of the character specified, a casing, a seat pivoted onsaid casing, means for normally holding said seat in raised position, apair of racks on said seat, a pair of rods journaled in said casing, apinion on each of said rods meshing with one of said racks, a shutterattached to each of said rods, and a plurality of auxiliary rods, eachjournaled to one end in said casing and at the other end in one of saidshutters.

4. In a device of the character specified, a casing, a pair ofupwardly-extending flanges on said casing, a seat pivotally mountedbetween said flanges, a downwardly-extending flange on said seat, a pairof racks on said downwardly-extending flange, a plurality of springs,each bearing at one end against said casing and at the other end againstsaid seat, a pair of downwardly-extending flanges on said casing, a pairof bent rods, each journaled in the downwardly-extending flanges of saidcasing, a pinion on each of said rods, each meshing with one of saidracks, a shutter attached to each of said rods, and a plurality ofauxiliary rods, each journaled at one end to one of the flanges of saidcasing and at the other end to one of said shutters.

5. In a device of the character specified, a casing or base, a seatpivoted on said casing, a pair ofracks on said seat, means for normallyholding said seat in raised position, a pair of downwardly-extendingflanges on said casing, the lower portions of said flanges beingflattened, packing applied to the flattened portions of said flanges, apair of rods journaled in said casing, a pinion on each of said rods,said pinions meshing with said racks, a shutter. attached to each ofsaid rods, and packing on the edges of said shutters.

WINFIELD SCOTT JOHNSON.

WVitnesses:

LOUIS I-I. TEANEY, W. J. WALLACE.

